¶1. (C) The ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
operation to capture or kill the Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah
Islamiyah leadership on the southern island of Jolo is ending
its tenth week. The key terrorist leaders — Khadaffy
Janjalani, Abu Sulaiman, Dulmatin, and Umar Patek — appear
to be in the area of Mt. Bagsak in central Jolo, the
traditional stronghold of Abu Sayyaf warlord Radullan Sahiron.

¶2. (C) In an October 2 raid on a safehouse near the town of
Patikul, AFP military and intelligence units captured Istiada
Oemar Sovie, one of Dulmatin’s wives, who is believed to be a
major link in terrorists’ logistics network. Sovie, an
Indonesian national, is currently being held on immigration
charges at Camp Navarro in Zamboanga, where the Military
Intelligence Group-9 is interrogating her.

¶3. (C) Under the leadership of Brigadier General Rafael, the
Task Force Comet Commander, the AFP has begun building a
screen of Special Forces and Marine units around the
suspected location of the terrorists, and implemented a
robust series of patrols and ambushes in an effort to tighten
the noose around Mt. Bagsak. By the end of the month, AFP
troops on the island will be reinforced with the 1st and 2nd
Marine Brigades, which will redeploy from their present
location in Lanao del Sur. At sea, the Philippine Navy has
maintained its maritime cordon, conducting over 2420 maritime
interdictions since August 1.